One of my all time favorite leaders is Walt Disney. He was one of the best examples of a man with great passion. Though vision is always a great topic in books and articles on leadership, passion is often not mentioned or associated with vision. Many times vision is discussed as more of a vision or mission statement than in great detail. While being able to articulate your vision is important, if there is no passion it is nothing more than a dream with no real life to it.
Walt Disney took his passion to share art and fun with people around the world and developed a powerful vision. Think about this fact, Walt Disney started with a single comic strip, then, took great. passion and fueled a vision. Today, the Disney Corporation has over 35 billion dollars in annual revenue. That’s right, 35 billion, with a “B.”
Some companies have lofty visions, but there is no real passion to fuel those visions. A corporation can not create passion. Passion comes from a person and every great company started with a person with a passion. John Wesley, the great Methodist Revivalist said, “When you set yourself on fire people love to come and see you burn.” It’s your passion that will inspire and energize people to help bring a vision into a reality.
Passion brings true fulfillment. Passion takes you through failures with loosing enthusiasm. Passion gives you strength to get through the storms that will be between you and your vision. Passion bring ownership and deep emotional commitment. Passion brings a great love for your work. Passion brings courage. Passions creates the drive that will help you overcome every obstacle.You can see the importance of passion as it relates to your vision. You may say, “Harold, I really do not have a vision for my life.” If you truly do not, then begin to find out what your passions in life are. What moves you to emotion. What causes you to feel angry, sad, joyful, excited? With everything that is in you find passion…find your passion. This passion will become the fire in your belly that will become the driving force to help you accomplish great things on your journey through this life.
Great comments. Walt Disney was criticized and neglected but His belief in himself and his dream allowed him to become successful. A dream without passion is a nightmare.